By Max Bowen-max.bowen@northstarreporter.com
A plan to build a four-unit retirement community on a site at the corner of Landry Avenue and Mt. Hope Street has some concerned how it will be impacted by existing traffic.
The proposal went before the Planning Board at its July 15 hearing and was continued to Aug. 19. Nick Facendola, a project engineer with Level Design, said the development would consist of five buildings with four units each. There would be three bedrooms per unit and it is estimated that each building will have 4,200 square feet of space.
There would be four subsurface infiltration systems to handle stormwater—two for runoff from the impervious surfaces and two for the roof runoff.
The 8.2-acre parcel (lot 320 of Plat 33 on the Assessor’s Map) is undeveloped, and wetland and river boundaries have been set. The proposal will also go before the Conservation Commission.
A 24-foot access road would lead onto Mt. Hope Street. This had some worried about the traffic already in the area. Helen Stein-Echeverri of Lyman Street said that with the three nearby schools (Martin Elementary, the middle and high schools) there was a lot of traffic, both vehicular and students on foot.
“That road is crazy with walkers morning and afternoon,” she said.
Richard Thorpe lives on Mt. Hope Street, and said that the access road’s location was not ideal with all the vehicles traveling down it, as well as those stopped as parents line up to drop off their children.
“There’s more access off of Landry,” said Thrope. “It might be more money, but the access in and out is better.”
